Miracle Drug

Saturday night, I found my hidden stash of Unisom and B6.

It was at the very bottom of my box of maternity clothes, stuffed down with the medical paraphernalia the hospital sends home with you after you've had a baby. I have no idea why I didn't look for it there sooner. Maybe it has something to do with living in the pit of misery every moment of every day for the last six weeks. Or maybe I was just being lazy.

All I know is, I was thinking once again, "Maybe I should send Corey to the drug store to get me some Unisom and B6 because I think that helped the nausea last time," when I had an ephiphany about where it was located.

After I consulted the Internet about the correct dosages, I cut my Unisom pill in half, grabbed a B6 and popped them all with my prenatal vitamin. Then I fell into bed and lay in the dark, waiting for sleep to descend so I could fall into oblivion and escape the nausea for a few hours.

And lo, I woke up Sunday morning, and I felt better. Not perfect, not second-trimester pregnant, but better. When I shared the news with Corey, my husband looked at me like I was a total dork and said, "I can't believe you haven't been taking this all along. You took it religiously with Teyla, and you said it made a huge difference."

So I went to church and drank my tea and ate lunch at Chipotle. I felt queasy, but never nauseous. I even managed to get through the afternoon and evening, which is usually the worst time of the day for me, without laying on the couch and sending death wishes skywards.

Needless to say, I took my miracle drug again last night. And I woke up this morning with the same, "I don't feel awful" revelation.

But now, I can't wake up. I don't know if the caffeine withdrawal is setting in a month after I gave up coffee (because it is boiled mud to me in the first trimester) or if the Unisom is stacking up in my system. Either way, I've fallen asleep three times already this morning while the kids are destroying the house around me. (One time, I woke up to find Teyla playing with the tube of Desitin. Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!)

But I'm not nauseous, and for that, I'm thankful. I think I'll go have some toast and tea. And this time, I'll make it black.